Advocacy

Success By 6 engages in two related efforts  -- data tracking and advocacy -- to increase investments and supportive polices for families with young children.  Data tracking not only helps Success By 6 plan its investments and actions, but it allows Success By 6 to monitor indicators of school readiness over time in order to determine impact. Advocacy for early childhood policies are an important piece to the work of Success By 6. With limited resources, Success By 6 programs can only reach so many children and families. Large-scale impact requires political will and a combined effort of many individuals and organizations.

The School Readiness Report, published annually by Success By 6 -- examines community conditions that affect children's early school success. Building on the work of the National School Readiness Indicators Initiative and the Pathways Mapping Initiative, Success By 6 identified 10 indicators that shed light on family environments and supportive services that are related to school readiness. This report also calls for an increased access to more data that is not currently available. The 2007 report was released on February 21. To learn more about the report and to download a full copy, click here.

In the fall of 2006, Success By 6 and United Way of Central Indiana crafted and endorsed positions on full-day kindergarten. This act was the first formal public policy position taken by Success By 6. The Success By 6 Leadership Council felt that the passage of statewide availability of full-day kindergarten was a necessary ingredient to early school success. Success By 6 and United Way are particularly interested in influencing the idea of a "full-day of learning" -- which implies that in order for a new statewide program such as full-day kindergarten to be successful, it must be of very high-quality. To learn more about full-day kindergarten and to read the position statement, click here.

© 2008 United Way of Central Indiana